News

Optimapharm is a leading regional clinical research organization (CRO) in the SEE markets. Over the next three years,
Optimapharm plans to double its revenues via organic growth and add on acquisitions to become the largest
independent CRO in the whole of CEE

Following the global trend of consolidating market positions of clinical research organizations (CROs), Optimapharm,
the leading CRO in SEE, acquired the Czech CRO company MKS Research.

By acquiring MKS Research, Optimapharm will enter the Czech market, and further strengthen its portfolio of clients
in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries and its market position in Central Europe. The move is in line with
Optimapharm’s medium-term strategic objective of becoming the largest independent CRO in CEE, with business
operations across Europe and the U.S.

“The clinical research market is experiencing a continued rise, and we have the knowhow, references and strong
financial position enabling us to lead the consolidation in the region. Moreover, our ambition is to double our
revenues over the next three years, and continue acquiring good-quality companies such as MKS Research,”
Optimapharm CEO Gordana Gregurić Čičak said.

By consolidating MKS Research, Optimapharm will have a total of 120 full-time employees and annual revenues over
EUR 12 million. Optimapharm is headquartered in Zagreb, Croatia, and has offices in more than ten European
countries. It covers markets with over 200 million people and has the expertise to conduct phase I – IV clinical
research across Europe and through partners in the U.S.

“We are becoming a part of a much larger company with structured operational support. This means that we will be
even better able to focus on projects and growth in the Czech and Slovak markets, while our employees will get new
opportunities to develop their careers within an international group and work on more complex projects,” MKS
Research executive director Veronika Sebkova stated.

The value of the global clinical research market has been growing in the last several years at annual rates of more
than 10 percent. In 2016, it reached USD 31.4 billion. It is expected to reach USD 49.26 billion in the 2017 – 2021
period (New Market Research Report, December 2017). The biggest market is the U.S., accounting for 40 percent of
the global market, with Europe being the second biggest one.

ABOUT OPTIMAPHARM

Optimapharm is the biggest independent clinical research organization in Southeast Europe. It was founded in 2005
in Zagreb, and has since built up a professional multidisciplinary team with expertise in clinical research in the
pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries. More than 60 percent of employees have more than six years
of experience in relevant clinical research, while more than a third of all employees are doctors in various fields of
medicine and life sciences.

Optimapharm has taken part in many international clinical programs that resulted in commercialization of new drugs
in the segments of oncology, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, pulmonology, psychiatry and neurology.
Optimapharm has a strong track record in conducting pediatric clinical trials in various indications. The company has
the most expertise in clinical research in the field of oncology, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

Recognizing needs for further expansion to meet the specific requirements of our customers,
OPTIMAPHARM, the largest Central and South-Eastern European Clinical Research Organisation,
established legal entity and office - in Tbilisi, Georgia and Sofia, Bulgaria.

A significant effort has been made to improve Georgia’s healthcare policy and system in recent years,
offering a great potential for running clinical trials in this region and at the same time creating a huge
opportunity for the patients to have access to the latest treatments. Therefore, OPTIMAPHARM
decided to be a part of these positive developments and to facilitate trial acquisition and execution
upon the request of clients. Bulgaria’s presence reinforces OPTIMAPHARM’s intention to increase the
capacity of Clinical Operations and to strengthen the presence in Central and South-Eastern Europe.

Having operations across 10 leading countries in the region and offering a full range of clinical trial
services from fast patient recruitment, clinical trial design, management and monitoring, to
regulatory affairs and data management and analysis, OPTIMAPHARM is recognized as an excellent
partner for conducting trials within Emerging regions in Europe.

'We want to support our clients with their plans to conduct cost-efficient and fast enrolling trials and
we pay close attention to a more personalized approach to trial execution. By opening new sites with
additional resources, we believe this will significantly help in our efforts to provide fast and high
quality services for our clients', says Gordana Greguric Cicak, CEO at OPTIMAPHARM.

OPTIMAPHARM continues to expand the Clinical Operations team by appointing Ivaylo Yordanov as Country Manager in Bulgaria.

Ivaylo is a skilled Clinical Research professional with over 10 years of experience in one of the top global pharmaceutical companies. Working as a Clinical Research Associate, specializing in Diabetes, Hemophilia, Obesity and Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, Ivaylo demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and motivation thus advancing initially to Local and later becoming the Regional Trial Manager and finally to the position of Clinical Research Manager at Novo Nordisk, Bulgaria. Ivaylo will supervise and coordinate the complex and challenging activities related to the clinical trial execution where the combination of both clinical research expertise and effective management skills are needed.

A strong and experienced team is key to reaching our ambitions and fulfilling high expectations from our clients. Ivaylo brings a strong know-how in managing clinical research projects making him a great addition to our team as we accelerate the growth of OPTIMAPHARM.

As a part of the growing strategy, OPTIMAPHARM announced the expansion of its senior
management team through appointment of Goran Vesov, MD as Director of the Quality
assurance and training department.

Goran brings over 17 years of experience in research and pharmaceutical industry. He has a
medical background and is a specialist in Paediatrics. His career in drug development started
in Novo Nordisk, where he moved from CRA to various leadership positions - such as Clinical
Quality and Training Manager, Clinical Research Manager and Head of Clinical Europe East.
In 2013 he started working in the Novo Nordisk European HQ in Zurich as a Senior Quality
and Education Manager, the position he held until he joined Optimapharm. During his
career, Goran has provided quality control/support and training around the globe, acquiring
thorough insight in these processes. To develop his leadership skills, Goran has graduated at
the prestigious Scandinavian International Management Institute in Copenhagen.

With his experience and knowledge, he is the right person to accelerate the development of
Optimapharm by strongly contributing to the advancement of our quality and training
systems.

Optimapharm, the largest Central and South-Eastern European Clinical Research provider,
continues to offer broad and high quality services to accelerate ambitious clinical
development programs for their Clients. As a result of growing demand for emerging
markets, an office has been opened in Ljubljana, Slovenia in June 2017 and a new, larger
office has been acquired in Skopje, Macedonia in May 2017.

Commenting on the investment, Gordana Greguric Cicak, CEO at Optimapharm said: ‘This is
a valuable strategic investment for Optimapharm as there is a high demand for conducting
clinical research in our region because pharma and biotech companies continue to recognise
value of emerging regions.’

Apart from being key regional partner in cutting edge medical research we do not forget to engage as a responsible corporate citizen of the global community. This year again we will be supporting Motovun Film Festival. As primarily dedicated to the films from small cinematographers and independent productions, films that have a hard time fighting their way to theaters and wide audiences, this festival celebrates the authors sticking to their artistic stubbornness, unconventionality and originality. It will take place in small and beautiful medieval town Motovun in Istria, end of July